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Global Presence

Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Connect with us at one of our
offices across 29 cities.

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Tracking the Retail Rebound

You can’t open a newspaper or turn on the TV, without seeing the good news: U.S. consumer sentiment is strong and the outlook for retailers has shifted from, “how long will we be able to hang on,” to “just look at our rebound!” That’s a far cry from just a few years ago, when the media was sounding the alarm for brick-and-mortar retailers, because the online shopping juggernaut seemed to signal the demise of traditional in-store retailing.

Now we’re seeing retailers like Target, Walmart, Macy’s, Kohls, and Nordstrom reporting strong quarterly sales, and that’s putting retail stocks on the upturn. Although the optimistic consumer outlook is certainly a key reason for rising sales, it’s also important to give credit where it’s due:

Retailers have been
doing the work needed to make themselves relevant to shoppers again.

Once they stopped playing “catch-up,” traditional retailers have at last become experts in blended retail, which combines the power and immediacy of online shopping with the personal experience of traditional retail stores. They’re also unafraid to take chances on new ideas and new technologies that keep customers shopping – both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. (And on the opposite extreme, we see online retailers like Amazon investing in off-line retail stores.)

Traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores have been reinvented to be more consumer-centric. Some retailers are enhancing their in-store experiences, putting guests at the center. Others are offering faster delivery or pick-up and customized shopping experiences.

The recipe for retailer success is a simple
one: Focus on getting the basics right and invest in brand-complementing
innovations that support what retail customers are asking for.

In the age of social media, transparency and authenticity are also highly prized by consumers. This trend is especially apparent, when retailers and brands communicate with younger generations, like Generation Z. Forward-thinking retailers are already on the case, leveraging new and enhanced technologies and finding innovative ways to encourage as much demand as possible from this new breed of consumers.

Here are a few business prescriptions that can help retailers remain on their upward trajectory: